Denver, Yellowstone & Montana...?

My wife & I are talking-up our vacation for 2006. We're going to take a month off, and the tentative plan goes something like this:

* Fly into Dallas-Fort Worth from Honolulu to visit the family for a week...

* Fly up to Denver to visit rich brother, his wife and the horses they raise on their ranch south of Denver. We've never been there since they bought this place almost 10 years ago... figure on hanging with them for maybe a week or 10 days...

* Now comes the 'fun' part... We've never been to the Great Northwest, either. So, we are thinking about Yellowstone Nat'l Park... renting a car... drive up to Cody, Wyoming... check into a hotel/motel for a couple of days... check-out the Buffalo Bill museum... drive up to Yellowstone (maybe see Yogi and Booboo, and the Ranger)... and then leave Cody for...

* Missoula, Montana... have a good friend who retired... he and his wife have a little 'ranchette' up there... along the way maybe stop by the Little Big Horn where 'ol Custer met his fate...

* Eventually return to Denver, and then fly on back here to Paradise.

At first we thought about doing this around July... but some friends here said that summertime is choke-crowded for places like Yellowstone, due to school being out and most folks taking the kids, etc... So, now we're considering September when the kids are back in school. However, being from Hawaii, we have some concerns about weather... we don't like it too cold... not used to it, and don't own any heavy-duty winter-type apparel, either.

I'd love to read what any of y'all... especially those who are from, or have been to these parts of the good 'ol USA... might have to say about our plans: weather tips, other sights to check-out, dining suggestions, good hotel/motel to stay at in Cody (or anywhere else along the way), warnings, or what to watch out for...

I'd love to read what any of y'all... especially those who are from, or have been to these parts of the good 'ol USA... might have to say about our plans: weather tips, other sights to check-out, dining suggestions, good hotel/motel to stay at in Cody (or anywhere else along the way), warnings, or what to watch out for...

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I consider Glacier and/or Waterton Parks as must-sees if you're going to be anywhere near there. But you might easily see snow there by late September, I think. Watch out for bears...seriously!

Whenever friends come out here (a good bit further west) to visit I tell them to stay flexible on plans so they can go where the weather's nice. Wyoming and Montana are both really beautiful states, have fun!

I spent a few years over near Whitefish, Montana. It can get cold in a hurry up there. September was normally mild though. Considering where you live and the weather you are used to, I can tell you it is going to be cold in Montana in late September.

I consider Glacier and/or Waterton Parks as must-sees if you're going to be anywhere near there. But you might easily see snow there by late September, I think. Watch out for bears...seriously!
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I few years ago, I spent about a week in Glacier Park. That was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Driving along Going to the Sun Road was really something else. It was very beautiful, even though I was scared to death the whole time. There's nothing like driving up a mountain with no guard rail on the side.

The bears....yeah. When my brother and I went hiking with a guide, I became a little nervous after he told us to "only use force if the bear begins to eat you, not just nibble". Also, being from the southeast, I was tickled pink to be up there in August with 60 degree days and 40 degree nights. Glacier Park is definitely a must-see.

More suggestions: If you like to drive, it's only 8 hrs. from Denver to Rapid City, South Dakota and Mount Rushmore. Then maybe 9 hrs. from there across Wyoming to Cody. That's the triangle we took. Denver, Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone, Tetons, Denver.

Lot's of driving, great scenery. Don't go to Rushmore after Yellowstone, however. Rushmore can whet your appetite for Yellowstone, but would seem somewhat underwhelming after Yellowstone.